Wandering in the desert

I am struggling today, not wanting to post anything, because truthfully, it has just been a brutal freakin' week. And I just don't feel like I can go into detail and share it with everyone, but I still feel the need to post something, so I guess this is as good as it gets. Really, the problem is...my family is struggling to find our path, I guess. We've had a lot of changes in our lives recently and we've kind of had our foundation rocked a bit. It has left us wondering what to do, where to go, how to proceed. It's scary and worrisome and honestly, it's more stress than I want to deal with right now. It's more stress than my husband wants to deal with too. So we just walk around trying not to irritate each other. I'm left feeling guilty because I feel like the stress drains me of my energy and I am not fully engaged with the boys like I need to be. I am going through the motions, barely, and I know they feel it. The thing is...I don't know what to do to change the situation. We are just - LOST. That's it...don't know what else to say. Hope things look better tomorrow, I could use a moment of joy. On a happier note, so as not to end this post in a depressing fog, it was only like 75 degrees today, it was supposed to rain. No rain on our end of town, but lots of cool wind. So I guess that's something, I didn't have to spend the entire day stressed AND sweating.

Feelin' HOT HOT HOT!

I took a picture of my car radio console which shows the temperature outside for those of you who find it unbelievable that we are already in triple digits here. The fact that I am adding yet another post about the high temperatures should clue you all in to my wretched state of mind when it comes to the summer heat. How did people live here 100 years ago with NO AIR CONDITIONING!!! Some of my ancestors helped establish and build towns here in Arizona. First question - WHY? Second question - How did they live through it? Oh my heck!!! I know one thing: I would have been a rotten pioneer/settler. I would have been the one they kicked out of the wagon train, because I would have complained the whole way. And I can guarantee I would not have made camp long once we got to "our home" in the middle of the desert. One or two days of this heat and the throbbing migraines that follow and I woulda hit the dusty trail and headed for cooler climates. I'm sure I would have had a great sending off from all of my traveling companions who were tired of listening to me yammer! And I'm even more sure that 2 miles into my grandiose escape I would be gripin' about something else, like how hard it was to get through the mountains and how cold it was now. You know...glass half-empty girl.

As I write this, I remember that I am trying to have a more positive outlook on life. So I guess as I ponder the hardships of those who came before me, I will also ponder the miracle of air conditioning, automobiles, cotton clothing and swimming pools and thank the Lord that I was born in this era of technology. Cause I would have gone through lots of pencils and paper (and friends) trying to complain everyday by hand. Now I get to do it quickly and comfortably in just a few minutes time - I guess life ain't as bad as it could be. It's just dang hot.

101 Degrees and I'm gettin' mean!

It was 101 degrees outside today. I have officially begun my summer depression. I walked out to the car, opened the door and felt the heat on my face like a blast furnace. I tried not to start crying, sucked it up and got in the car. The car has black interior. We live in Phoenix. I did not choose the car, that's a story for antoher day. I will tell you my husband chose it. I don't think he thinks about things like burning your hands on a lava-hot steering wheel. He also doesn't think about things like interior colors. He was trying to do something nice, so I have to try to get over it...but days like this make it hard. Normally, this wouldn't be too big of an issue, because I usually park in the garage. But my hubby has a project in the garage which is going to require several large men to remove. Of course all of the large men we know are really busy, not to mention none of them live close to us...so I have to park in the driveway, in the heat. The kids are on my side, they have to sit in the solar oven with me. Maybe we'll take advantage of the situation and try to bake some bread in there...It's seriously that hot! And, bonus!! The car would smell great and I wouldn't look so stupid driving around with oven mitts on my hands!! White or Honey Wheat?

We're feeling a little sheepish...

Little Man has been studying farm animals now for a while at school. First he did butterflies, then plants, now animals. He has to make a farm animal out of crafty things, so he chose a sheep. We have been gluing cotton balls to a water bottle all week. Little Man thinks it would be cool if sheep pooped cotton balls. Yep, that's what he said. I could take that thought and run with it, but I'm sure you all have funny little visions of your own now about cotton poops, so we'll just move on.
Certainly makes the phrase "I'll be dipped in sheep s(poop)t" less scary though, doesn't it?
ANYWHOO...here's the sheep without a face or ears:


And here is the finished product, which went to school today.

It was Little Man's idea to put the bells on, he thought that would be cute. He named the sheep Jingles. I am going to finish picking the glued cotton strands off of the table and the clogged glue bottle now.

Are you tired already of reading about my family yet? You can tell the truth, I won't be offended. I really want this blog to be an interesting place to visit, so you all don't feel like you are wasting your time when you stop by. I will try to add variety to the blog...it's all new to me and I am still trying to flesh it out! In the meantime...thanks for dropping in.

Snaggletooth

My little guy lost another tooth Saturday night. It wouldn't be so bad, except for the fact that a) it needed a few more weeks to loosen up more and b) he already has his 2 bottom teeth missing, so now it's hard for him to bite things.

Losing it was a bloody affair. He and his big brother and cousin were wrestling on the trampoline. Suddenly I hear crying and I see blood running out of his mouth and of course, I am instantly freaking out on the older boys, asking them what they did to him. Then Little Man holds up his tooth, crying, then screaming at the top of his lungs when he sees the blood, as if he's just been beat by a 300 pound professional boxer. Oh, the inhumanity of it all! After we finally get him calmed down, he tells me what happened. Apparently (or 'parently, as my 5 yr old niece says), he was wrestling with big brother and his tooth caught on brother's back pant pocket (I know...I am still trying to visualize how this could come to pass...is there butt biting in wrestling?) and when his brother stood up, Little Man's tooth was yanked out! OOOOWWWW!! Luckily the tooth was somewhat loose already, but still...OOWWW! So, the tooth fairy did her thing and now we are looking for foods that he can eat without a lot of complaining involved. Watermelon, anyone?

My Husband's Keeper?

My husband is getting ready to take the boys on a Father and Sons camping trip. By getting ready, I mean he is getting the oil changed in his truck and the tires rotated. I am the one who is getting all the camping gear out and getting everyone's clothes ready and packed and making sure they have the snacks and food they will need. I am not going camping with them. I expect my husband to come home and talk about how much work it is to get ready to go camping as he throws everything I've prepared in the back of the truck. Then he will probably ask me to call someone for directions to the campsite...even though I am not the one who will be driving... because I am not going camping with them! I know, I KNOW!! I set it up this way 10 years ago when we got married, 'cause I thought I was "taking care of my man." Now he has become somewhat helpless and I only have myself (and sometimes my mother-in-law... she doesn't have a computer - she can't read this!) to blame.

I think while he's gone I'm gonna volunteer him to go help at my Kindergartener's Farm Day Fair. He can hang out in the 98 degree Phoenix sun all day and help the kids with the petting zoo. Yeah...I'm like that.

My First Post on My First Blog

So, after many months of boring my friends and family with all kinds of worthless emails, I have decided to start a blog. That way they can come here when they want to, read whatever they want to and not have such a full email inbox. You can all thank me later for being self-aware enough to lighten your email burdens!

Seriously, I have been wanting to do this for awhile (start a blog, I mean) and after frequenting some other blogs (thepioneerwoman.com, ohmystinkingheck.com), I finally got off my butt and started to write.

I am also starting to submit small articles online, which you can read here. There's only one so far, but my goal is to submit 2 or 3 a week. Read it and tell me what you think!!

So this is it, my first post! The wild winds have been blowing by me for a while now, I have finally caught a-hold and Boymom and I are goin' for a quick ride! Whoo-hoo! Wish us luck!!